Method and apparatus for assigning spectrum of a local area network

1. A network manager for reducing the amount of interference between access points communicating on a network, said network manager comprising: a processor, coupled to communicate with a plurality of access points, for transmitting at least a first request message, said first request message for causing at least a first access point to determine a radio proximity of one or more neighbor access points of said first access point, said processor further for determining a set of channel assignments for said plurality of access points from at least said radio proximity, said set of channel assignments reducing an amount of interference in said radio proximity caused by a subset of said one or more neighbor access points communicating using a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum used by said first access point; and a memory, being coupled to said processor, for storing instructions and a value corresponding to said radio proximity for said processor.

2. The network manager of claim 1 wherein said processor is further for transmitting at least a second message, said second message being generated from said set of channel assignments, said second message for causing at least one access point of said plurality of access points to change channels.

3. The network manager of claim 1 further comprising a display device, being coupled to said processor, and wherein said processor is further for causing a display of a graphical representation of said radio proximity.

4. The network manager of claim 1 wherein said processor is further for processing at least a first message received from said first access point, said first message indicating said radio proximity for said first access point.